Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-01-23
FIG CULTURE.
what Kind Of Fig Trees to Plant
and where TO Plant Them.


All experienced fruit.growers recog-
nize the Importance of securing the right
variety of all kinds of fruit. In this
age of sharp competition it is imperative
that as few mistakes be made as pos
sible. 1t is also as necessary for success
that the climate of the locality to be
planted is suitable.
Experiences has shown us that the COM
mon black fig of California will grow
and produce an abundant crop in almost
every part of this State, and many,
reasoning from this, believe that all
kinds will do equally as well. This is
great mistake. The more tender va
rieties of white figs, which grow freely
in the south of Europe and Asia Minor,
will not succeed except where the
nights, as we'll as the days, are warm,
aud where there is moisture enough in
the soil to produce good trees. Such
places are to be found in the foothills of
the Sierra Nevada, especially on the
margin of the rivers, where the soil is
deep, rich and moist; in the warm val
leys of the Upper Sacramento and San
Joaquin, in Vaca Valley and in many
other warm localities. In large por-
ton of San Joaquin and Sacramento
counties the nights are too cold. and,
except in sheltered places, they will not
mature their fruit. The same will be
tha case in all counties under the same
climatic influences. As it is very ex-
pensive to plant and take care of an
orchard until it becomes paying invest.
ment, these two requisites locality and
he af,,1l on,otAora1
Having settled the question of locality,
the next thing to be determined is the
right variety. A critical examination
of the samples of dried figs exhibited
at the fairs in both Northern and South.
ern California will convince any one that
the right kind has not been cultivated,
aud that no approach to the fig of COM
merce-the Smyrna fig-either in ap.
pearance or flavor, has been made.
Some tive years ago the San Francisco
Bulletin Company and some other par.
ties imported directly from Smyrna a
few thousand cuttings of the fig of COM
merce.
The Bulletin Company distributed
their cuttings to subscribers. The bal.
ance. falling into the hands of nursery.
men, have been propagated largely and
also widely disseminated. These trees
are in the orchards of many of the prin.
cipal fruit growers of this State. As
cuttings only were imported, the trees
from them have not had time to develop
A few figs, however, were matured
during the past season (lSS6l, which
have satisfied their owners that they
have the true variety, as they have the
characteristics of the genuine Smyrna
fig The experience with this fig so
far proves that it is one of the most diff.
ficult to fruit of any that have been
tried, many of the immature figs failing
from imperfect fertilization. In its home,
on the plains of Alden, Asia Minor, ar
ti6cial impregnation is practiced, show.
ing that even there it possesses the same
peculiar qualities. 1t is not the design
Of this article to discuss the fertilization
of the fig, either by caprification or 9th.
erwise, but only to say that when the
trees have been cultivated long enough
to establish the fact that they are sue.
cess, the enterprise of our people will
soon find the secret of fertilization. 1t
is not necessary to state that these trees
are for sale in this State. The catalo.
logues of our principal nurserymen
show that they are in good stock.
Another variety of fig which is COM
msnding the attention of planters this
season is the so-called White Adriatic.
1t is not a new introduction, as many
suppose, but has been long in the State
Trees of this variety are growing at
Knights Ferry, Stanislaus county. that
were planted eighteen or twenty years
ago. The fruit has not been properly
cured and introduced until lately, but
this season some very fine figs have been
put on the market, being much the best
article that has been produced in this
State. It is strong growing, hardy
variety, and will bear a crop where most
of the tender kinds will not, but can
never rival the imported Smyrna frnit.
1t must be recollected that Knights
Ferry is one of the choice localities in
the warm belt, where the orange thrives
and the fig grows to perfection.
These two kinds are the ouly white
figs whose size and quality recommend
them to the planter. The next in order
claiming attention as a dried fig is the
common black variety, or California fig.
1t has many qualities that recommend
it; it is hardy, growing in almost any
part of the State and bearing abundant
crops. When prorerly cured is is deli.
cious and in the opinion of many equal
to the imported Smyrna. Its color alone
prevents 1t from being favorite in the
market, and still with an inferior price,
its universal productiveness renders it
profitable.
A few words in conclusion to those
who intend to plant. After attending
TO suggestions about locality and varie-
ties, be careful to select land free from
gophers, as it is almost impossible to
raise an orchard where the ground is in.
tested with them. Do not expect your
trees to give you an immediate income;
four or five years may pass before any
returns are made.-[S. F. Bulletin.